Townsville Home Builder

Download the eleventh issue of Townsville Homebuilder

2011-04-07T17:47:00.003+10:00

Download the eleventh issue of Townsville Home Builder in PDF format now

Get all of the blog posts for this month in a convenient, downloadable and printable format

Click here to download the latest issue of Townsville Homebuilder

Quality Building Company Ensures the Best Kitchen Design for Clients

2011-04-07T17:29:00.008+10:00

The Hub of the Home In times gone by, the kitchen was not a feature of the home. It was often hidden away at the back of the house or even detached from it for safety in the days when people cooked over open fireplaces. But fast forward to the 21st century and the kitchen is now the hub of the home, a place where people like to gather together to socialise as well as cook. Knowing this, Grady Homes work with only the best cabinetmakers to ensure that their kitchens are attractive as well as functional, reflecting the total attention to quality that is an essential component of every Grady project. For the past three years, many kitchens in Grady display homes have been the work of Townsville cabinetmaker Michael Siandri, whose up to date factory is located on the Bohle Industrial Estate. Michael had been a cabinetmaker for 11 years when he set up his business in 1998, initially operating from a workshop in Townsville. “It was great to link up with such as reputable, well-established company as Grady Homes,” he said. “Once this happened we needed a bigger shop and bigger machinery, so we moved to the Bohle Industrial Estate.” At the new premises, Michael and his team of six have set up a computerised workshop where they produce three dimensional plans for customers. “We go through the plans with them and redesign if we need to,” said Michael. “Everyone’s needs are different. We listen to what people want and customise kitchens for them to suit their budgets and their tastes." Two recent examples of their work are the kitchens in the Grady display homes at the North Shore and Sanctum developments. . As well as kitchens for new homes,Michael also does kitchen renovations and other work such as bathroom vanities and cupboards for laundries, bedrooms and theatre rooms. A professional to the nth degree – a couple who went to look at their home-inprogress on Christmas Eve found Michael there installing the kitchen – Michael appreciates the same quality in Grady Homes. “We’ve worked for a lot of builders and we’ve noticed a big difference in their professionalism compared with others,” he said. “This applies from the start to the final handover. They have everything down pat, they’re really well organised and that’s what we like, because we know when to go in and do our job. It’s really well programmed.”

Taking the Pain out of Building

2011-04-07T16:54:00.007+10:00

"The service from Grady Homes was better than we received from anyone else".

When embarking on a home building project, many people gear themselves up for glitches, hold-ups or other problems before thecan step over the threshold and call the property their own.

The difference for Trent Stenton and his partner, Agnieszka, was that they entrusted Grady Homes with the construction of their new home.

The couple, who relocated from Brisbane when Trent was posted to Townsville with the Army, moved into the Kalynda Chase home just before Christmas, delighted with the smooth way in which the project was performed from start to finish.

When checking out homes and builders they had been immediately impressed by the response and help they received from Meryl Bloomfield, one of Grady Homes’ most experienced consultants.

“Meryl was very helpful, and overall we found the service from Grady Homes was better than we received from anyone else,” said Trent.

After looking at Grady’s four-bedroom Mirage design, the couple chose it with no alterations apart from the extension of the rear patio.

“We were happy with that design because it suited our block, and the open plan layout inside made it look even bigger than it is,” said Trent. “We particularly like the 2.7 metre ceilings. They add to the impression of space inside, compared with standard 2.5 ceilings.”

With the design decisions made, Trent and Agnieszka were once again happy with the way the building project proceeded.

“We liked the way Grady Homes went about it,” said Trent. “It’s all straightforward. They cover everything, and make sure you know about all costs that will be incurred.”

Construction proceeded without a hitch and Trent and Agnieszka took possession of the home in time for a happy Christmas.

“It’s been a very positive experience for us,” Trent said. “We’d have no problem recommending Grady Homes to anyone thinking of building.”

When you’re looking for a builder you can trust to provide top quality service, don’t look any further than Grady Homes. Contact Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900.

A Special Sanctum

2011-04-07T16:42:00.007+10:00

From its quiet and spacious environment to its state-of-the art facilities, the Sanctum housing estate offers something special for its residents.

Located at Mount Low, just 15 minutes from Townsville’s CBD, Sanctum is also 10 minutes from the Domain Central shopping precinct and only a couple of minutes from other shopping centres, beaches and schools.

Diversity is one of the major features of the family friendly estate, which has lot sizes ranging from 450 square metre courtyard blocks for people who prefer minimum yard maintenance to 1200 square metre blocks for those who want a good size yard and extras such as a pool and workshed.

Contributing to the diversity is Grady Homes, which has been associated with Sanctum since the Maidment Group began development of the estate three years ago.

“Grady’s have been involved in the Sanctum estate from Day One, and were one of the first companies to open a home here,” said Maidment managing director, Glen Maidment.

“Before that we already had a strong association with them through two of our projects at Mount Louisa, so our relationship with Grady Homes goes back about seven years. They have a display home right opposite our land sales office at Sanctum.”

With 145 lots of the 1300-lot estate now completed and the majority occupied, Sanctum has already established itself as having much to offer people of all ages.

“It’s becoming a real little community, which is what we strive to do,” said Glen. He said feedback from the general public showed that there were three features of the estate that have proved especially popular. These are:

• Wide roads. “We’ve gone out of our way to keep very wide roads throughout the development,” Glen said. “This makes it possible for people to park on the side of the street as they used to in their old suburbs, unlike some new residential estates where, if a car is parked on either side of the street, you can hardly drive between the two.”

• State of the art technology. Sanctum is the only estate in the Northern Beaches area that has fibre to each home. Benefits include multi-line phone services, digital TV services and broadband with lightning fast internet downloads for music, software, games and much more.

• Open space. Almost 30 hectares of the estate are dedicated to open space such as playgrounds, parks, recreational areas and footpath trails.

“For a development of about 1,300 lots, 30 hectares is a considerable amount of land for open space and recreation,”said Glen.

For more information about Sanctum ring 07 4721 2822.

Download the tenth issue of Townsville Home Builder

2011-03-04T16:36:00.001+10:00

Download the tenth issue of Townsville Home Builder in PDF format now

Get all of the blog posts for this month in a convenient, downloadable and printable format

Click here to download the latest issue of Townsville Homebuilder

Even Yasi couldn't ruin their dream run

2011-03-04T16:30:00.003+10:00

Choosing the right building company ensured a happy outcome for this Townsville couple

When you’ve just settled into your brand new home, the last visitor you want is a tropical cyclone.

But that’s what happened to Shaun and Elizabeth Gillott, with the news that Cyclone Yasi was poised to swoop only six weeks after they moved into their home in the Townsville suburb of Burdell.

Until then they’d enjoyed a dream run with the building process, a situation they attribute to the help and support they received from the moment they chose Grady Homes as their builder.

They had spent two years renting after Shaun’s employment saw them transferred from South East Queensland to Townsville, but then decided they wanted to build.

Finding the right builder, however, was a problem.

“We’d been looking around for some time,” said Elizabeth. “We were feeling a bit disheartened until we went into one of Grady Homes’ North Shore display homes.”

There they encountered sales consultant Amanda Stevens, and their building worries were over.

“She was fantastic,” said Elizabeth. “She had a lot of information and could answer all our questions, which gave us a lot of confidence in Grady Homes.”

Aided by a rough sketch that Shaun and Elizabeth provided, Amanda helped them to achieve the layout they wanted, including such specifics as having the bedrooms separated from the living area, the main bedroom placed at the back of the house and an open plan living area overlooking the patio.

The good news continued, with the building process taking less time than expected.

“It took shape within a couple of weeks,” said Shaun. “Our builder, Angus Ryan, a site manager/supervisor with Grady Homes, was really good and very accommodating, as was Bruce Grady himself. I was impressed with his hands on approach. Nothing was too hard for him. He even helped to clean windows and vacuum before they handed the house over to us!”

That was on December 17, with the prospects looking good for 2011.

Then at the beginning of February came the news that Cyclone Yasi was heading for North Queensland, with Townsville one of the centres in its sights. Shaun’s work had sent him to Mackay so Elizabeth heeded official advice to evacuate.

Accompanied by their pet dog, AJ, she spent the night of the storm with friends in another area of Townsville.

While Yasi missed a direct hit to Townsville, it still caused widespread havoc and damage. It did, however, leave the Gillotts’ new home virtually untouched, apart from damage to a gate and broken glass in their front door, as Elizabeth found when she returned the next day.

Much to her surprise, she also found that Grady Homes’ interest in the house hadn’t ended when they handed it over.

“The next day I ran into Bruce Grady,” she said. “He was fantastic. He sent Angus over, they patched up the front door with something temporary and because it was a custom built door he is going to order another one for us. There was no obligation for him to do any of these things but he went out of his way to give us a hand.”

Happy with the ending to their building story, both Shaun and Elizabeth would “go Grady” again if the occasion arose.

“We found the entire staff very accommodating, especially Amanda, Angus and Bruce, who were the ones we had the most to do with,” said Shaun. “We’d certainly build with Grady again.” For a builder whose commitment goes beyond the call of duty, contact Grady Homes on 4795 0911

2011-03-04T16:00:00.006+10:00

This design gives you everything you need - and much more! Grady Homes pride themselves on providing you with everything you need when you buy one of their house and land packages. In fact, as well as getting everything you need, you also get much more. For example, purchasers of one of the latest Grady Homes packages, the Mirage 2B, in the fabulous Kalynda Chase housing development, will find they have not only all the necessities but also many extras at their fingertips. Included are many items that other builders often class as extras but that are part and parcel of a Grady Homes house and land package for both the exterior and interior of your home. Outside your home comes with turf,landscaping, security screens for all windows and doors, and a letterbox. Inside your home includes airconditioning throughout, kitchen, bathroom and ensuite vanities by our preferred cabinetmaker, and entrance doors with feature glass panels. Located on Lot 653 Shoalhaven Circuit in Kalynda Chase, this Mirage 2B package features a 599 square metre parcel of land within minutes of some of the most popular attractions of Kalynda Chase,such as the new tennis centre and the future basketball and beach volleyball facilities. One of the most popular Grady Homes’designs, the Mirage 2B plan offers a high degree of flexibility to suit the individual requirements of owners. “For example,” said managing director Geoff Caldwell, “the front room near the entry can be used as a study or as a fourth bedroom for guests or older children. “There’s also a multi-purpose lounge that can be enclosed and used as a theatre room, or a kids playroom or left open as a sitting room, just to name a few possibilities.” One of the features of the Mirage 2B thatis especially popular is the location of the master bedroom, complete with ensuite and walk in wardrobes, at the end of the house away from any street noise. Also strategically located is the kitchen,which is part of the spacious family and dining areas and overlooks the patio,making it an ideal vantage point from which to supervise children or inter-relate with guests while preparing meals. Best of all is the price: $267,419 for the house and $169,000 for the land, making a total of just $436, 419. “Based on recent sales in this area, this is a very good investment,” said Geoff To walk through a Mirage and see all its attractions for yourself, contact one of the helpful consultants at Grady Homes

The Balanced Lifestyle in demand at Kalynda Chase

2011-03-04T15:49:00.003+10:00

For years health experts have been championing the benefits of a balanced lifestyle. Now Urbex’s Kalynda Chasedevelopment is proving that it is a recipe for success for its residents.

Located in Bohle Plains, just 20 minutesfrom Townsville’s CBD, the tranquil masterplanned community combines open space with city convenience andaffordability. Kalynda Chase has sold half of its homesites with more than 1500 people already calling Kalynda home. And that is increasing monthly.

Among the enthusiastic supporters ofKalynda Chase is Grady Homes, which have been involved with Kalynda Chase since its inception in 2005.

“Grady Homes was part of the inaugural display village and has been a huge supporter ever since” said Urbex SalesManager, Vi Miller.

It’s easy to see why Grady Homes have elected to be part of this exciting masterplanned community which provides residents with conveniences to suit their busy work schedules as well as the amenities that go with a healthy lifestyle.

“A big part of Kalynda Chase’s appeal is that there is a real sense of community within the estate – it is safe, convenientand offers a quality of life that is hard to find with access to recreational walking and cycling paths and open space.

"The recent opening of KC Convenience store and Thai Smile House Restaurant in the Kalynda Shopping Centre has furtherboosted the lifestyle benefits offering residents the convenience of a central place to meet, purchase their everyday convenience items and enjoy some exotic thai cuisine.”

Set amid 28 hectares of parkland, every street within Kalynda Chase has direct access to open space and parkland and the popular 18 station outdoor fitness circuit. Supporting its focus on a balanced healthy lifestyle, Kalynda Chase is also home to the newly constructed TownsvilleRegional Tennis Centre – Kalynda Chase which includes 10 International Tennis Federation-standard hard courts, aclubhouse, multipurpose function rooms and a community gym. Right next door to the tennis centre you’ll find the sporting oval. Beach volleyball and basketballfacilities are also planned.

“Kalynda Chase offers house and land packages starting at $355,000, which has been popular with first home buyers.

``The Villa and Courtyard-sized homesites are for those people who don’t want to live in a unit but who also don’t want a big yard to maintain.

``People want convenience to suit their busy lives and they want the amenities that go with a healthy lifestyle. They are looking for low maintenance home sites and like the idea of the parklands andsporting areas we have developed here atKalynda Chase.’’ Home sites range from Villa-sized 350sqm lots up to 450sqm, Courtyard sizes from450sqm to 600sqm, and traditional lots from 600sqm up to and over 1000sqm. The latest land release at KalyndaChase offers 18 home sites on Corymbia Avenue ranging in size from 424-937sqm and starting from $145,000. For more information call the Kalynda Chase Sales Team on 07 4723 8933 or visit the website www.kalyndachase.com.au.

Download the ninth issue of Townsville Home Builder

2011-02-25T16:53:00.006+10:00

Download the ninth issue of Townsville Home Builder in PDF format now

Get all of the blog posts for this month in a convenient, downloadable and printable format

Click here to download the latest issue of Townsville Homebuilder

Where do you find the right builder?

2011-02-25T16:35:00.005+10:00

Townsville family has its dream home thanks to Grady Homes' quality touch Choosing a company to build your family home can be a daunting prospect.

Faced with this need when they decided to settle in Townsville, Des and Claire Cannon decided to put their trust in word of mouth recommendations from others, along with their own gut feelings.

This approach led them to straight to Grady Homes and to a building experience that has had a happy outcome for all concerned.

“By the time we started looking for a builder we had heard a lot of good stories about Grady Homes, because we had a number of friends whose homes they had built in Townsville,” said Claire.

“We still consulted other builders, as you do, but by the time we were ready to go ahead we decided that Grady Homes were the best choice.”

Des and Claire were particularly impressed with the flexibility shown by Grady Homes in relation to adjusting the home design they selected to make sure it was right for their needs.

“They had no problem with moving rooms and bathrooms around to give us what we wanted and, after talking to us about our requirements, the designers also suggested some changes,” said Claire. “Between us we came up with what is, hopefully, a home that is totally different from anyone else’s.”

As parents of three children aged 10, 13 and 15, Des and Claire are especially happy with the layout of the bedrooms, which puts the main bedroom at the front of the house while the children’s bedrooms are tucked away at the back, where they also have the use of a spacious rumpus room.

Formerly from the United Kingdom, the family is also revelling in the outdoor lifestyle now available to them in Townsville to which they relocated after Des, formerly a Royal Marine commando, transferred to the Australian Army.

“We knew it had to be better than the dark and the cold and the wet of the UK, and we were right!” said Claire.

“In addition to the home, we now have a great outdoor life, which the kids especially enjoy. Grady Homes did the decking on the back patio which has made it a lovely feature of the house and we had a beautiful pool put in just as the build process was coming to an end. Grady Homes were very good with providing access for the pool people – it all worked out really well.

“The building consultant we worked with, Karen Chalmers, is no longer with Grady Homes but she was typical of the type of people they employ. She was very good at what she did and was really easy to get on with, even making herself available on her days off if she knew I was worried about something or needed information.”

Like any building project there were a few minor hiccups here and there, but Claire didn’t have to face these alone, even though Des was overseas for some time while the house was being built. “Karen or somebody else from Grady Homes was always available to help,” said Claire. “The Client Relations Manager, Bruce Grady, even came out and did some things himself, which we really appreciated.

“Everything’s perfect and we have no problems whatsoever with the home. We would certainly recommend Grady Homes to anyone who is thinking of building.”

For help from a builder who understands what you want, contact Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900.

Getting down to grass roots

2011-02-25T16:26:00.006+10:00

U-Bute Turf Farm provides finishing touches for Grady Homes clients “We do anything and everything!”

That’s the promise of Andrew Beasley, manager of U-Bute Turf Farm, which provides the all-important finishing touches for clients of Grady Homes.

Andrew and the staff of U-Bute Turf Farm grow, cut and supply the turf for the homes built by Grady Homes, as well as carrying out the landscaping for the clients.

They can also install irrigation that is so close to commercial quality that it rarely requires maintenance, resulting in a ‘set and forget’ system that is the dream of any home gardener.

“We’ve done turf and landscaping for Grady Homes clients throughout Townsville and down as far as Ayr,” said Andrew, whose dad, Larry, is the director of U-Bute Turf Farm.

Since Larry and Donette (Andrew’s mum) “took off travelling” in a motor home, Andrew and his staff have been looking after the 40-acre turf farm that grows couch and Queensland buffalo grass and is a seller for Sir Walter buffalo grass.

His work with Grady Homes has seen Andrew working on the turf and landscaping for a diversity of homes, from small residential gardens to large acreage.

“Our main aim is to make sure the clients get what they want,” he said. “We go out and meet them, listen to what they want us to do and make sure we can fit their requirements into their budget.”

This practice of meeting personally with clients is essential to the success of the work of U-Bute Turf Farm.

“It means we’re not dealing with second hand information,” said Andrew. “Through meeting the clients, we are able to understand exactly what they need and to do our best to achieve that for them.”

And whatever those needs are, they are unlikely to faze the U-Bute Turf Farm team.

“We’re not scared of a challenge!” said Andrew.

As well as being able to meet Grady Homes clients’ requirements, no matter how large or small the job, U-Bute Turf Farm can also provide professional advice for people who are not sure about the best landscaping decisions for their properties.

“We can give them good ideas as well as helping them to see why some things mightn’t work for them,” said Andrew. “For example they may have wanted certain plants in area that would be wrong for them or that might limit access to those areas. In such situations, we can advise them about more practical alternatives.”

U-Bute Turf Farm liaises with Grady Homes to co-ordinate the landscaping once the building work is completed.

“We aim to be the last people in, so that there’s no damage done from other tradespeople walking on our work,” said Andrew. “Once the building work has been finalised, we come in and weave our magic.”

The results of this magic can be seen not only at the homes of Grady Homes clients but also at display home locations such as Bushland Beach, one of the recent creative efforts by U-Bute Turf Farm.

After working with Grady Homes for a number of years, Andrew has nothing but praise for the company and the benefits it offers its clients.

“I’m proud of the work I do for Grady Homes. I find them a very professional and well organised business and great to work for.” he said.

“They’re hassle free and nothing is ever too much of a problem for them.”

For information about how U-Bute Turf Farm can help you, contact Andrew on 0418 779 154.

Nothing but the best!

2011-02-25T16:02:00.004+10:00

Clients can expect top quality from house and land package What can you expect in a Grady Homes house and land package?

The answer is simple: nothing but the best!

This is the case from start to finish, from the land to the finished home, with expert and personal attention to every detail along the way.

“Our packages are based on land we have sourced and made available to our clients,” said Grady Homes managing director, Geoff Caldwell.

“We endeavour to source the best home sites available in various locations and we then analyse these home sites.”

Using all the great design principles for which they are known, Grady Homes then select their most suitable designs to create the ideal packages for these sites.

As Geoff points out, this makes it easy for clients to see the full cost of the house and land, compared with other builders who promote a cheap house and land package only to omit such important factors as fencing, turfing and even driveways. Sometimes other builders also use inferior products in order to offer cheaper prices.

“A quality Grady Homes package, on the other hand, offers no nasty surprises,” said Geoff.

“It offers just what you need and expect, so you can build it and move in with no worries.”

As well as knowing they will receive top quality, clients can be sure that everything is included in the quote when they buy a Grady Homes house and land package. “We don’t want people to get excited about a price only to find out they need to spend more for it to be complete,” said Geoff.

Even before construction, Grady Homes’ clients can be assured the company is looking after them, providing them with professionally drafted plans, energy rating and looking after both developer and building applications, approvals and certification.

When purchasing a house and land package, Grady Homes offer the quality and superior finish they’re famous for, with brands that represent reliability and local service agents. They also include a few luxury extras that have become popular lately such as wider fridge spaces plumbed for ice makers.

The professional care and attention to detail continues throughout the Grady Homes process, from the quality external materials and finishes of the home to the internal three coat paint system.

Indicating the outstanding quality of a Grady Homes project is the 12-month extended maintenance warranty provided, as well as the lifetime 50-year structural warranty.

For detailed information about the many benefits you will receive from a Grady Homes house and land package, contact Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900.

Download the eighth issue of Townsville Homebuilder

2011-02-25T15:48:00.004+10:00

Download the eighth issue of Townsville Home Builder in PDF format now

Get all of the blog posts for this month in a convenient, downloadable and printable format

Click here to download the latest issue of Townsville Homebuilder

Dream Home Delights Industry Insiders

2011-02-25T15:38:00.007+10:00

Builder even met a deadline surprise When a professional mortgage broker and a tradesman carpenter set a builder the task of building “The House”, it can only end badly. That such a challenge had a fairytale happy ending in Townsville’s new Sanctum Estate warranted a closer look.

After six years of commuting from her beloved Toolakea Beach acreage, working mum Vicki Blackburn decided that the need for more time with her young family was motivation enough to look for a lifestyle closer to Townsville.

Carpenter husband Kody made his feelings quite clear when the subject was broached – “The only way you’ll get me to move is if you build me THE HOUSE.”

For a mortgage broking consultant with Packer Ryder Home Loan Services that really wasn’t much of a challenge.

Vicki dealt daily with home owners and builders and had her finger well and truly on the pulse.

Once her challenge became public knowledge, clients started offering advice and the name that kept repeating was Grady Homes.

“Among my clients were a first home builder, a couple building their second home and an investor and all praised Grady. Some of my clients had built in the new Sanctum Estate and one look was enough to convince me that was where I wanted to live,” Vicki said.

The Toolakea acreage home had been very much their own dream home design so the design for “The House” took no time for the pair to develop. Master bedroom away from the children, separate living areas for adults and children, an office with built-ins, large double garage and overall a tropical, open-plan airy feel, it was all quickly committed to paper.

“We briefed two builders simultaneously with the idea of pitching one against the other.

“The first listened, nodded, made suggestions and it all went so well that when we went back to look at his plans and concepts we thought he had made a mistake and given us someone else’s plans. It just wasn’t what we had described by any stretch of the imagination.

“By comparison our meeting with Julie at Grady Homes involved changes and suggestions that were actually an improvement and when we went back the plans were just us. More importantly we had started with a budget in mind and they came in right on the dollar. It was a done deal on the spot.”

Vicki said that the first meetings with the Grady team set the tone for the whole building process.

“With our respective backgrounds we were probably the clients from hell but nothing was too much trouble, even to meeting us on site out of work hours because we both worked and, at the death, bringing the handover forward almost a week when we advised we had rented our Toolakea property and needed to move in early.

“In fact the build was amazingly quick considering this was not a project home. We signed the contracts on May 1st and moved in on November 12.

Where their first dream home was set on acreage with 280 sq.m. under roof, Mk11 of the dream is 300 sq.m. built in Stage I of the Sanctum master planned community. Vicki said that already “The House” feels more like home than their house of six years.

“It’s a no compromise house designed for our lifestyle and is exactly what we wanted and pictured.

“The fact that I can leave for work 10 minutes later each morning and arrive home earlier at night means there’s more time for the eight and 10 year old and the estate with its 28Ha of parks and gardens provides a great environment for that family time.” Vicki said.

As for Kody the carpenter, he doesn’t miss having to mow the acreage and is content that between them Vicki and Grady Homes have actually stepped up to the plate and come up with “THE HOUSE”.

Kitchen Designer adds winning wow

2011-02-25T15:28:00.005+10:00

With kitchens for around a 1000 Grady Homes in his multi-award winning portfolio, designer and cabinetmaker Kevin Wright knows full well the truth of the old adage that a kitchen can be the deal breaker in a new home.

For the uninitiated it can also prove the budget breaker and the cause of weeks of angst.

Kevin, the full time designer for Townsville’s Ross Joinery where he started as an apprentice 18 years ago, likes to think he takes the pain out of kitchen choice, surprising clients when they discover that project homes do not preclude innovative design. For many people a standard Grady Homes kitchen option is adequate. Even this is thanks to Kevin’s approach.

He meticulously went through all of the Grady Homes’ standard designs and developed approximately six different kitchen layouts for each.

“But if they don’t hit the mark then Grady refers their clients to me and we begin the design process from scratch within the parameters of their PC budget, taking the builders out of the equation until we have finished” Kevin said.

Kevin sees his role as finding a way to provide the flair and wow factor within the confines of a budget.

“It’s all about know-how,” he said, “knowing the products and materials and knowing where we can cut waste and money to offset the price of the more costly elements a client might want.”

Kevin said that one of the most common problems was clients not having an appreciation of the cost of desirable individual items such as bench tops. Here his product knowledge comes into play as he suggests viable alternatives that stick to a budget without compromising style.

Not unusually, one of the real challenges of his career was the kitchen design for his own home. Ultimately he went for simple and practical lashing out with a stone bench top but sticking to large storage drawers.

When not designing, a passion that occupies six days a week, Kevin can be found rehearsing, as well as designing and building sets for North Qld Opera and Musical Theatre, a group that recently produced the highest grossing amateur production in Townsville’s history – “The Boy From Oz” with Kevin in the lead role of Peter Allen.

Kevin admits he has trouble separating his passions.

“Sure I get a big buzz from theatre audiences, but I get a huge satisfaction from creating something that will live on in a home for generations, bringing families together in the heart of the household,” he said. Kevin’s passion is reflected in every design he develops for a Grady Home and has been at the heart of many of Ross Joinery’s 11 industry awards – a record that makes the business one of North Queensland’s leading cabinetmakers. To find your dream kitchen, telephone

Grady Homes on 07 47 95 0900.

Living in a Cyclone Area

2011-02-25T15:03:00.006+10:00

Diligent staff provide peace of mind

We have all seen the images or heard of the devastation and property damage caused by cyclones in North Queensland. Many people live in fear of what could happen to their home should a cyclone arrive. To a large extent the ‘fear’ is unwarranted, but it does pay to know about the structural integrity of your home and to properly prepare in the event of a cyclone.

“Cyclone Althea resulted in a lot of changes to the local building industry,” says Geoff Caldwell, Managing Director of Grady Homes. “New codes were developed to improve the structural integrity of new homes. If your home was built before these new codes were implemented, your cyclone preparation list should perhaps include an evacuation plan to a community safe house or a relative in a new home.”

When Cyclone Althea buffeted Townsville and the North Queensland coast in 1971, cyclone region codes were developed using localexperience and the cyclone testing station at James Cook University to ensure that modern homes in North Queensland can offer the best resistance to these destructive winds.

“There are a lot of people who move here from southern states that aren’t aware of the different construction methods in this region. They are surprised by the common use of masonry block in the new homes that they see and the amount of steel and concrete that goes into them. They don’t realise that concrete and steel reinforced masonry block walls is one of the most economical ways to help reinforce a home against cyclonic winds.

“At Grady Homes, we ensure each and every one of our homes is built to the highest standards and with careful consideration of factors that may influence clients’ satisfaction of their new home - including the impact of a cyclone.

“For example, we choose to use Lysaght Colorbond steel roof sheeting which stretch from the top of the roof to the gutters in long individual sheets – minimising any damage from air borne debris and restricting the damage to that one sheet.

“Grady Homes are one of the few builders who have the overall structure design certified by an engineer - from the footings, to the way the slab is tied to the frame with interconnecting steel reinforcement that gets stronger as the code demands, to the metal plates that tie the roof down. With the reinforced block walls, and built by tradesmen who take pride in their work and pay attention to detail, our clients can enjoy peace of mind knowing their home meets or exceeds every part of the building code’s special conditions for cyclonic winds.

“The high quality of our homes stem from our team – from the supervision of experienced Site Managers, to the care and attention from our tradesmen and suppliers.

“We’re a local family who’ve been building in the Townsville region for more than 50 years. How can the long term safety and security of our clients in their brand new homes not be important to us? After all, some of our clients include our family and friends, neighbours, staff, tradesmen and suppliers. It’s the trust we’ve earned over the years that has resulted in our high percentage of referrals and repeat clients.

The pledge of a Lifetime Structural Guarantee further supports the company’s confidence in the quality of their homes, and workmanship of their staff.

“Our clients know that at Grady Homes, they are getting a very high quality home – a strong home that’s built to last.”

Download the seventh issue of Townsville Homebuilder

2010-11-19T16:19:00.016+10:00

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"It is absolutely cheaper to build"

2010-11-18T16:46:00.009+10:00

Renovation Myth Exposed: Sarah Saves Thousands What’s the most cost effective way for a young person to get into home ownership? How does anyone under 30 quickly build equity? Is buying cheap and renovating the answer? Townsville’s Sarah Dale is a young woman with her head in the right place and a role model of common sense for many. A Finance Officer with Life Without Barriers, Sarah was like many of her contemporaries in the 25 years bracket,casually tossing up the alternatives of renting versus ownership as she spent 12 months looking at properties “on and off.” Sarah had done her maths and realised that her budget realistically was $300,000 to $330,000. But the more she looked at Townsville properties in this bracket the more she thought perhaps home ownership was not for her. “The houses in this bracket were either not in desirable areas or they needed renovating, additional money spent renovating kitchens or fixing bathrooms and the like,” Sarah said. She looked briefly at the idea of buying a yet to be built unit but the Body Corporate costs were an added burden not in her tight budget. Just when Sarah was despairing of ever finding something both affordable and desirable, she heard a radio ad for Grady Homes then new Grady First packages specifically designed to make it easy for First Home Buyers to enter the market. “I called in to Grady’s office on a whim,spoke to Deb about pricing and we just went from there. It was that easy,”Sarah said. With a maturity beyond her years, Sarah had already reasoned that building in a desirable area would see the homes value grow quickly with a resultant quick boost to her equity and, eventually, her ability to borrow for another property. She chose a house and land package at North Shore, right down the front and just a block from the planned school – a location that again will make the property more desirable and valuable. To Sarah’s surprise her house and land package, based on her choice of the very attractive, cottage-like Capri A plan, came in $3,000 under her budget ceiling at just $327,000. Sarah omitted the landscaping option because she wanted to do it herself. Apart from putting in a shower in place of the bath and changing an upright stove to an underbench oven, she found the three bedroom home’s design perfect for her young lifestyle. Building started in February and she moved in in July, well ahead of schedule and “with absolutely no problems.” The Grady First packages are made more affordable by simplifying the processes and the work involved, and Sarah found the communication process more than acceptable. In fact she dealt more with the firm’s principal Bruce Grady than with her project supervisor. “It’s pretty good when the boss of the company is there to answer your questions.” Sarah said. One aspect of the Grady First process is that instead of going shopping for tiles and colours, clients are presented with professionally designed colour boards with quality fixtures and finishes - a process Sarah found far easier and, in the long run, less expensive. “If I had gone into the shop I would have spent more,” she said with a knowing grin. Now that Sarah is living in her home,her days are spent finishing gardens and landscaping. She is also planning a shed she intends building to make the property a better rental proposition within a few years when she takes her second step towards becoming a property mogul. For now she’s enjoying the envy of her friends and the admiration of her parents. If you’re young and looking for a good start in life, ring Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900 to find out about Grady First

How to get a house tailored to your block

2010-11-18T16:36:00.008+10:00

Bushland Beach A Prime Example

Can you choose a design for a specific environment? Is it possible to alter a builder’s design to maximise a lifestyle? Grady Homes has done just that with its newest display home at Bushland Beach. The house has been tailored for the unique environment of this master planned community with living areas open to the beautiful north easterly breezes, all natural theming, quiet escape nooks and a low maintenance easy care garden. Bushland Beach is the only master planned beachside community in Townsville, complete with upgraded sports facilities, artscape entrances,landscaped native gardens and sensitively integrated streetscapes. Nothing has been overlooked - this community offers childcare centre, medical centre, charming markets and a dedicated supermarket and specialty stores for convenience. The resort offers a modern hotel complex with cold drinks,excellent meals and a gaming room. Innovative planning means Bushland Beach’s premium home sites offer a wide variety of choice. From compactlevel blocks to elevated blocks, this masterplanned estate incorporates changing elevations to take advantage of the best ocean views in Townsville. Against this background, Grady Homes has erected The Orlando Display Centre,a spacious, open plan four-bedroom, two bathroom home with separate lounge and dining rooms, a big central family room, an airy kitchen and an inviting alfresco area.

Designed for the North Queensland lifestyle, this home features a hideaway patio leading off the lounge and dining areas, while the seamless alfresco, kitchen and family areas invite relaxing with family and friends. This 225 sq.m. design is spacious but with a foot print perfect for almost any homesite. Grady Homes’ Orlando Bushland Beach Display can be found at 19 Bilbao Place,Bushland Beach. If you would like to maximise the features of your unique homesite, call Grady Homes on 4795 0900.

Poor block choice adds thousands

2010-11-18T16:02:00.010+10:00

Home Building Traps to Avoid

Choosing the wrong homesite can be a horrendously expensive mistake, adding tens of thousand to your building costs. But how do you know what constitutes a good block? How do you determine the hidden costs? What are the traps and pitfalls?

Home Buyers think long and hard about their choice of home design and builder yet comparatively few consider the influence of their choice of land on their new home.

Many buy off the plan, or perhaps after a cursory look at the site. They may base their decision on balancing the block size Vs price Vs position equation.

But not all sites are created equal.

Townsville Home Builder spoke to Grady Homes’ Managing Director, Geoff Caldwell to get the benefit of the company’s 50 years experience building in Townsville.

Geoff said that the pitfalls for the unwary were many.

“One of the obvious ones is the amount of fall on a block. When it comes time to build, that appealing slope could require excavation, backfill and retaining walls that can exceed $20,000,” he said.

“We have seen people buy large blocks off a brochure thinking they can have a house, huge shed and a pool – only to find the amount of usable space reduced due to the amount of work needed to be done to the block, work that can affect the budget available for what they want to achieve in their new home too.”

Geoff says that when you’re thinking of building, land is one of the first priorities to get right.

Some of the important things that just aren’t clear on a brochure but can influence the cost or design of your home are:

• Where your driveway can or can’t be located. This can be influenced by being on a corner, stormwater areas etc.

• Building envelopes – once you could position your home on your homesite according to some broad rules set by Council By-Laws. Now, building envelopes determine not only where you can place your home, but how far forward some parts of the home can be from the rest of it.

• The overall level of the block, something not always obvious on the plans.

• The orientation of the homesite so you can maximise Townsville’s North Easterly breezes, and minimise the impact of the Westerly sun.

• The need for storm water to the street for some ecologically sensitive areas or bushfire requirements.

• Sewer lines in relation to the block – the depth of these hidden services may result in costly engineering changes to the home. The position & depth of sewer lines can also reduce the useable space on the block by affecting not only the position of the home, but any future pool or shed as well.

In addition, there are questions you should find out. These include:

• What are the design guidelines, or covenants, for that estate? These can influence your home’s features. They can include limits on sizes of sheds or preclude having fencing to the front.

• The features and future infrastructure of the estate and surrounding area. You may want to

maximise or minimise your proximately to future schools, parks or main roads.

Geoff believes that, in many cases, buyers will be best served by finding their block first before

settling on a home design that may or may not be able to be built on their homesite. They should include their builder in this decision to help avoid pitfalls and maximise any advantage available -

another reason to be careful in their choice of builder!

Grady Homes offers a free land selection service to help their clients achieve the home and lifestyle they desire. Call Grady Homes on 4795 0900 to benefit from 50 years experience in Townsville.

The Great Rental Myth: EXPOSED Part 1

2010-09-13T16:05:00.008+10:00

How would you like to be out of pocket by more than $4 million?

It’s a lot of money to lose but don’t kid yourself that it can’t happen to you.

That’s what you can lose if you rent a home instead of buying one over a period of 30 years. Forget the myth it’s cheaper to rent, because in this Insight Report Townsville Homebuilder proves that the real cost of renting runs into millions of dollars not hundreds of thousands. To find out the facts, Townsville Homebuilder interviewed the Managing Director of Grady Homes, Geoff Caldwell.

With many years experience in the homebuilding industry, Geoff is well qualified to comment on the cost of renting compared to the cost of buying.

Geoff said: “Obviously, people will argue that as the Managing Director of a homebuilding company I am biased. So, to overcome that let’s just deal with the facts. If I do that, I know there’s no doubt I can prove it’s cheaper to take out a loan and buy your own home than it is to rent.

“Let’s talk about a hypothetical case. We will call the couple Roger and Susan. They have been married for 30 odd years and are now in their 50s. When they first married, Susan was 21 years old. At the time their weekly rent was $385. If we adjust the figures so that the rent they were paying is expressed in today’s money then we get the following result. “Even though they were initially paying only $385, by the time Susan had reached 31 years of age they were paying $830 a week. Ten years down the track when Susan was 41 they were paying $1793 a week and by the time she had reached the age of 51 they were paying $3870,” he said.

“When you talk in those terms, some people are puzzled and say ‘we’re not paying $4,000 a week in rent’ and they’re right. That’s not what their paying on the face of it but if you calculate what the dollar was worth 30 years ago and express it in today’s terms then that is what they are paying,” Geoff said.

“Look at it another way. When the Holden Commodore first rolled off the production lines in the summer of 1978 it cost $6,513. Thirty years later, a new VE Commodore would have cost a motorist $32,990. The price hasn’t gone up because Holden has put a lot of new things into the basic model. It’s gone up because of inflation.”

Geoff then explained that the rent paid by Roger and Susan over the 30-year period totalled no less than 2.3 million dollars. He said this was calculated on the basis of recorded property data for the past 50 years and took into account rent increases of 8 per cent a year.

“It’s a lot of money to have paid, especially when you remember they are probably paying someone else’s mortgage. But, if Roger and Susan had been well advised at the outset they could have put that money into paying off their own mortgage and had a lot left over.”

If you are interested in talking about building a home or would like more information about the real cost of renting, contact Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900.

This builder outstrips the competition 2 to 1

2010-09-13T15:35:00.004+10:00

Where can you find a company you know will keep their word?

Where can you find a Townsville builder who is not only outpacing the competition by building nearly double the number of homes in the city, but also consistently keeping their word when it comes to build times, price and quality?

In the building game, integrity is all important. The public’s perception of the industry is not good, mainly because over the years there have been too many cowboys eager to make a quick buck and move on. So, to win the confidence of prospective clients a company has to be able to prove publicly it will not only deliver the goods but do so honestly – repeatedly keeping their word when it comes to build times, staying within the budget and maintaining high standards of construction and finish.

So, where do you start looking to find out whether or not a company is up to the mark? Townsville Homebuilder found theanswer when it conducted a licence search of several builders on the website of theBuilding Services Authority (BSA). The top performer in Townsville was Grady Homes.

For the financial year ended the 30 June 2010 this company built 113 homes in Townsville – a phenomenal record when you consider that its nearest competitor built only about half that number. To find out more about Grady Homes,Townsville Homebuilder interviewed one of the company’s key personnel, Michelle Boaler, who is responsible for Sales Development and Management Support.

Michelle has a strong track record in the building industry and before joining Grady Homes worked for a building supplier. Townsville Homebuilder asked Michelle why the company enjoyed such strong support from clients.

“We pride ourselves on our professionalism and people know this. Over the years we have tried to distance ourselves from those companies in the industry who were happy to make promises before a client signed up but later weren’t so keen to adhere to delivery deadlines or stay within budget.

“Grady Homes has been established more than 50 years. It was founded by John Grady. He established a formidable name as a builder of quality homes who always delivered outstanding service.

“As the business grew, it was eventually incorporated as The L. J. Grady CompanyPty Ltd and evolved into Grady Homes after John retired. Because we are jealous of our reputation, the company has a culture of maintaining strict ethical standards – there is no way any conduct that smacks of impropriety or a lack of integrity will be tolerated,” Michelle said.“For example, the industry is plagued with complaints about builders who fail to meet completion deadlines or who for one reason or another will stretch the build time to the point where owners are frustrated and angry at the delays.

“As such, Grady Homes has always made a point of keeping to the build schedule. Our contracts clearly state when a client can expect the home to be finished. However, a few years ago we decided to go beyond that and we introduced a build time guarantee of five months for a standard home,” she said. “The guarantee clearly states that if we fail to meet the deadline we will compensate the owners by paying them $500 a week until such time as the home is completed.

“As I said, we pride ourselves on our professionalism and that includes keeping our word. Unlike some builders, we consider our word our bond.”

If you want a builder who not only delivers the goods but does so time and again, call Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900. Their word is about as good as it gets.

IT’S POSSIBLE:New home plus cashflow plus capital gains

2010-09-13T14:53:00.011+10:00

How did this couple achieve an incredible return on their rental? How can you generate a steady cash flow and still see substantial capital gains over a five-year period without running any risk? It can’t be the stock market you say, because everyone knows that’s loaded with risk.

So, what’s the answer? Well, a Townsville couple who built a new investment home can tell you because they’re now looking at a great annual rental return plus they’re looking forward to the prospect of substantial capital gains over the next five to 10 years.

For privacy reasons, Townsville Homebuilder cannot disclose the exact yield that Natasha Miller and her husband David are enjoying but the gross figure would make any commercial property investor jump for joy. It’s that good.

Townsville Homebuilder asked Natasha how they did it. “Well, we have been investing in property for years now. In the past we’ve always bought existing homes such as maisonettes. However, we were driving in a new area in North Shore one day and we realised it was great place for an investment home.

“Not only is it central to both the northern beaches and the city but it has a lot to offer including an aquatic centre, a new shopping centre and a new Catholic school and day care centre. In short, we felt it had great growth potential as an investment area for a rental home,” Natasha said.

“That’s when we started looking for a builder and we found a great company in Grady Homes. We did have a look at the display homes and plans of other builders but we were just very happy with the service we got from Grady so we went with them.

“We chose one of their standard designs, the Liberty 2c, which is a four bedroom, two-bathroom home. Right from the start Grady Homes went out of their way to help. Before they even started building they faxed the plans to a real estate agent and asked for her opinion about the potential rental return.

“She came back with her opinion and we were really pleased with the estimated rent. As it turned out, when the property was completed we didn’t rent it through her but instead decided to manage the property ourselves.”

Natasha said she and David had found a great tenant and the annual yield was exceptional.

“It can be daunting to manage a property yourself but we’ve been fortunate in that we’ve found an outstanding tenant and we actually got the rent that Grady Homes predicted we would.

“We cannot speak too highly of Grady Homes. We’ve had friends who have built over the last couple of years who have been caught with builders who have gone broke or had some sort of dramas but we’ve got nothing but praise for Grady Homes.

“We’re business owners and we’ve had more stress with our business than we have had building with Grady.”

Asked if she would recommend Grady Homes, Natasha said: “People should go along and have a good chat. They shouldn’t be frightened to ask questions because Grady Homes has all the answers. It’s just a pleasurable experience right from the day you walk through the door until it’s finished.

“Even now, I’m still getting emails or phone calls from them asking if we’re happy, ‘is everything all right’ or if they can do anything to help us.”

If you are planning to build an investment home, talk to the team at Grady Homes on 07 4795 0900. Their expert consultants will guide you about the best home to suit your plans and refer you to estate agents who will give you an honest estimate of the return you can expect from your asset.

Download Townsville Homebuilder Issue 6

2010-09-13T14:09:00.012+10:00

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Download Townsville Homebuilder Issue 5

2010-08-27T12:03:00.001+10:00

Download the fifth issue of Townsville Home Builder in PDF format now

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